Brace



Dec. 21, 1937. J H, WALLACE 2,102,929

l BRACE Filed Aug. 7, 1936 I) ,ff/mm,

45 "4 2" 46 55' 6 INVENTOR 47 f 7 gyfamesM//ce v t ,y AHORNE Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFlCE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to braces or bitstocks for the reception of bits used in boring holes and the primary object of this invention is to provide a brace which will enable the user to bore holes in locations which are inaccessible with ordinary braces. i

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a brace having an adjustable handle which may be selectively adjusted to occupy the usual position or to occupy a position at substantially right angles to the usual position when the brace is in use.

Other objects of the invention are toprovide a brace of this nature which is strong, simple, and compact in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and not expensive to manufacture.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying draw- In installing electric wires in buildings and in many other kinds of work necessitating boring holes in wooden structures it is often necessary to bore holes in places which are inaccessible to the usual brace and bit or even to ratchet braces or corner braces. It is an object of this invention to provide a brace in which the handle is adjustable into a position at substantially right angles to the axis of the bit receiving chuck and has a driving connection with the chuck when in this position thus adapting this brace for the boring ofl holes in locations inaccessible to ordinary braces.

In the drawing Figure l is a view in vertical section, with parts shown in elevation, of a bit brace constructed in accordance with my invention showing the brace handle in a position to be operated as an ordinary brace.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with parts broken away showing the brace handle positioned at substantiallyv right angles to the axis of the bit holding chuck means for driving the chuck means through bevel gears. c

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary sectional View with parts in elevation showing a pivotal joint and showing a. locking sleeve in retracted position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the ends of two members which are normally pivoted together but which are disconnected and spaced a short distance apart in said Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a detached view of a stub shaft which may be used to connect this boring means with a motor.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, with parts in elevation,

of a modified form of chuck which may be used in this brace.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views. y

Referring to the drawing, lil designates a tubu- 5 lar chuck housing. A bearing tube Il extends outwardly from the upper end portion of the chuck housing Il). The bearing tube il is rigidly connected with the chuck housing lil and is positioned at substantially vright angles to the axis of said chuck housing. A forked chuck frame is rotatably mounted in the chuck housing. This chuck frame comprises two side members l2, see Fig. 2, providing therebetween a space in which two chuck jaws i3 are operatively disposed. The upper end portions of the chuck jaws i3 are connected by pivots I4 with the side members l2. The lower ends of the chuck jaws are of conventional shape for the reception, in the usual manner, of the shank end of a bit or boring tool not shown. The upper end of the chuck frame is rigidly secured to a bevel gear l5. Ball bearings l5 are preferably provided between the base portion of the bevel gear l5 and the chuck housing I0. Upward thrust on the chuck housing is borne by a single centrally positioned ball l1 interposed between the bevel gear l5 and a cap i3 which is threaded into the upper end of the chuck housing. The top of the cap I8 is preferably rounded, as shown, to provide a convenient member upon which downward pressure may be exerted by the hand when the tool is in use with the brace handle in the position shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the chuck jaws I3 are moved toward each other to clamp a boring tool by means of a clamping ring i9 which is threaded onto the side members i2 of the chuck frame and has an inclined skirt portion 2li which engages with inclined portions 2l on the exterior of the chuck jaws I3. The upper end of the clamping ring I9 iits inside of the chuck housing Il) and said clamping ring I9 is provided with a flange portion 22 which may be grasped to turn said clamping ring.

A shaft 23 is journaled in the bearing tube Il and a bevel gear 24 is positioned within the chuck housing I l] in mesh with the bevel gear I5 and secured on the end of the shaft 23. Ball bearings 25 are provided between the bevel gear 24 and the chuck housing l0. The outer end of the shaft 23 projects beyond the end of the bearing tube 50 Il and is provided with a split 26, see Figj4, for the reception of a flat tongue 27 on the end of a hand hold portion 28 of a crank member. A pivot 29 pivotally secures the hand hold portion 28 to the shaft 23 in such a manner that these 55 two parts may be moved into a position substantially at right angles to each other as shown in Figs. l and 3 or substantially in alignment with each other as shown in Fig. 2. One corner of the hand hold portion 28 is preferably rounded off as indicated at 30 to allow relative angular movey mentof parts 23 and 28. A sleeve 3i is slidably mounted on the hand hold portion 23 and urged toward the shaft 23 by a spring 32. A locking member 33 projects from the end of the sleeve 3| adjacent the shaft 23. When the hand hold portion 28 is in the position shown in Fig. l, the locking member 33 extends past the end of the shaft 23 and holds the hand hold portion 28 at substantially right angles to the shaft 23. By sliding the sleeve 3i away from the shaft 23, as shown in Fig. 3, the locking member 33 may be moved clear of the shaft 23 and the hand hold portion 28 may be angularly moved on pivot 29 into substantial alignment with the shaft 23, as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the spring 32 will move the sleeve 3i back toward the shaft 23 and position the locking member 33 alongside of the split end portion of the shaft 23. When the locking member 33 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, it will maintain the hand hold portion 28 in substantial alignment with the shaft 23until the sleeve 3i is again retracted. A grip member 34 is rotatively mounted on the sleeve 3l between two collars 33 and 36 which are secured to the sleeve 3 i. A thrust collar 3T is secured to the hand hold portion 23 to support the upper end of the spring 32. A crank arm portion 33 is rigidly connected with the upper end of hand hold portion 28 and Vextends at substantially right angles therefrom and a knob receiving portion 39 is provided on the end of crank arm 38. A knob, preferably formed of a wooden member 40 supported between two metal members 4l and 42, is provided on the knob receiving portion 39. A screw 43 threaded through holes in the members il! and 42 has its inner end positioned in a groove All in the knob receiving portion 39 thus preventing removal of the knob and at the same time permitting rotation of said knob.

The portions 3i, 38 and 39 constitute a crank shaped handle member for imparting rotation to the chuck means. When the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the device may be used as an ordinary brace, the shaft 23 being held so that it can not rotate in the tube i I and the bevel gears i5 and 24 preventing rotation of the chuck mechanism in the chuck housing Il). When holes are to be bored in locations which do not permit the brace to be used in the form shown in l, then the crank Shaped handle member is adjusted into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the shaft 23 rotated to drive the chuck means. When thus used the knob 33--4l-li2 serves as a handle and the tool is held steady and pressure for feeding is exerted by placing the hand on the upper end of the chuck housing.

Preferably the bevel gear lvis larger than the bevel gear 2li providing power step up means for driving the chuck mechanism through said bevel gears.

In Fig. 5, I have shown means for connecting the shaft 23 of this boring tool with a power actuated driving means. In Fig. 5, the shaft 28 and brace handle parts are replaced by a straight stub shaft 55 having a slidable sleeve 53, handhold 5?, locking means 53, spring 59and collar 33 similar to the corresponding parts previously described in connection with Figs. l to 4. A ball bearing 6i is provided to receive the thrust of spring 59. The end of the stub shaft 55 extends beyond the collar 6|! far enough so that it may be connected with an electric motor or other power actuated means, not shown.

In Fig. 6, I have shown an alternative form of chuck for use with this invention. This chuck comprises a chuck housing 45 carrying a rotatable chuck frame 46 within which two chuck jaws 47 are mounted by means of pivots 48. These jaws are forced together to clamp a bit by means of a forked clamping member having two wedge shaped prongs 49 connected by an upper portion 53, The prongs i3 are operatively disposed in suitable openings 5i in the chuck frame 4S. A ball bearing 52 is interposed between the upper portion 5@ ofthe clamping member and a screw cap 53. By screwing down the cap 53 the wedge shaped prongs i3 are forced downwardly between the outer walls of the openings 5l and the jaws di thus clamping the jaws securely onto any bit which may be inserted between said jaws. The ballr52 operates with relative freedom under the pressure needed to maintain the jaws M in clamped position.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawing clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood thaty this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within theV scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a boring tool of the class described, aY chuck housing; said chuck housing; a shaft journaled in said chuck housing and extending at substantially right angles therefrom; a bearing tube for said shaft rigid with said chuck housing and forming a lever arm by which said chuck housing may be' rotated when the tool is operated as an ordinary brace; driving means providing a driving connection between said shaft and said chuck; and a crank shaped handle pivotally connected with the outer end of said shaft adjustabley into two?- positions at substantially right angles relative to Veach other for selectively providing rotation of said shaft or rotation of said chuck housing.

2. In a boring tool of the class described, a

chuck housing; chuck means rotatable within? said chuck housing; a shaft journaled in said chuck housing and extending at substantially right angles therefrom; a bearing tube for said shaft rigid with said chuck housing and forming a lever armby which said chuck housing may be rotated when the tool is operated as an ordinary brace; driving means providing a driving con nection between said shaft and said chuck; a crank shaped handle pivotally connected with the outer end of said shaft; and releasable' locking means connecting said handle with said shaft providing adjustment of said handle into two positions relative to said shaft, rotation of said handle when in one position driving said chuck through said shaft and said driving means" and rotation of said handle when in the other position rotating said chuck, said chuck housing, said shaft, and said handle all about a common axis.

3. In a boring tool of the class described, a chuck housing; chuck means rotatable within said chuck housing; arshaft journaled in said chuck housing and extending at substantially right angles therefrom; a bearing tube for saidv shaft rigid with said chuck housing and form-E chuck means rotatable within ing a lever arm by which said chuck housing may be rotated when the tool is operated as an ordinary brace; driving means providing a driv ing connection between said shaft and said chuck means; a crank shaped handle pivotally connected with the outer end of said shaft; and a sliding member on said crank shaped handle adapted to lock said handle in two positions relative tol said shaft, selectively providing for the driving of said chuck by rotation of said shaft or for rotating said chuck by revolving said shaft along with said chuck housing about the axis of said chuck.

4. In a boring tool of the class described, a chuck housing; chuck means rotatable within said chuck housing; a shaft journaled in said chuck housing and extending at substantially right angles therefrom; a bearing tube for said shaft rigid with said chuck housing and forming a lever arrn by which said chuck housing may be rotated when the tool is operated as an ordinary brace; driving means providing a driving connection between said chuck and said shaft; a one piece crank shaped handle embodying a crank arm provided at one end with a perpendicular hand hold portion and at the other end with a perpendicular knob receiving portion, said hand hold portion and said knob receiving portion extending in opposite directions from said crank arm; means pivotally connecting the end of said hand hold portion with the end of said shaft; and releasable locking means slidable on said hand hold portion into retracted or engaged position relative to said shaft adapted to lock said hand hold portion in a position substantially parallel to said shaft or in a position at substantially right angles to said shaft.

5. In a boring tool of the class described, a chuck housing; chuck means rotatable within said chuck housing; a shaft journaled in said chuck housing and extending at substantially right angles therefrom; a bearing tube for said shaft rigid with said chuck housing and forming a lever arm by which said chuck housing may be rotated when the tool is operated as an ordinary brace; driving means providing a driving connection between said chuck and said shaft; a crank shaped handle embodying a crank arm provided at one end with a rigidly connected perpendicular hand hold portion and at the other end with a rigidly connected perpendicular knob receiving portion extending in an opposite direction from said hand hold portion; knob means on said knob receiving portion; a hand hold on said hand hold portion; means pivotally connecting the end of said hand hold portion with the end of said shaft; and releasable locking means slidable on said hand hold portion into retracted or engaged position relative to the end of said shaft adapted to lock said hand hold portion in a position substantially parallel to said shaft or in a position at substantially right angles to said shaft.

6. In a boring tool of the class described, a chuck housing; chuck means rotatable within said chuck housing; a fixed bearing tube extending outwardly from the upper portion of said housingand providing a lever arm by which the chuck housing may be rotated when the tool is operated as an ordinary brace; a shaft journaled in said bearing tube; bevel gear means providing a driving connection between said chuck and said shaft and looking said chuck against rotation within said chuck housing when said shaft is non-rotatably held; a crank shaped handle pivotally connected with the outer end of said shaft;

and releasable locking means slidable on said handheld portion into retracted or engaged position relative to the end of said shaft adapted to lock said crank handle to said shaft in different positions respectively with the connected portions of said crank handle and said shaft substantially in alignment with each other or at substantially right angles to each other.

7. In a boring tool of the class described, a chuck housing; chuck means rotatable within said chuck housing adapted to receive and hold a bit; chuck adjusting means connected with said chuck for clamping said chuck onto a bit; ball bearing means supporting said chuck within said chuck housing; a tubular lever arm extending at substantially right angles from the upper portion of said housing, a shaft rotatable in said tubular lever arm; bevel gears providing a driving connection between said chuck and said shaft; a crank shaped handle embodying a crank arm provided at one end with a perpendicular hand hold portion and at the other end with a rigidly connected perpendicular knob receiving portion extending in an opposite direction from said hand hold portion; a combined thrust knob and handle onr said knob receiving portion; a hand hold slidable on said hand hold portion; means pivotally connecting the lower end of said hand hold portion with the outer end of said shaft; and locking means on said slidable hand hold locking said hand hold portion in a position at substantially right angles relative to said shaft or in a position substantially parallel to said shaft, whereby said chuck may be rotated within said chuck housing through said bevel gears by rotating said crank handle when said hand hold portion is parallel to said shaft and whereby said chuck housing and said chuck may be rotated bodily with said brace handle when said hand hold portion is positioned at right angles to said 

